By- Dr.
Rashmi Srivastava
Numerical taxonomy
Numerical taxonomy is the method of classifying organisms with the
help of numerical methods.
This method clarifies and illustrates the degree of relationship among
the organisms in an unbiased manner.
The organisms are arranged in their respective taxa based on the
similarities and differences. Now-a-days numerical taxonomy is a
very important in modern systematics.
The main aim of numerical taxonomy is to classify organisms using
numeric algorithms.
The period from 1957 to 1961 saw the development of first methods
and of theory of numerical taxonomy.
Plants as we all know are classified based on their characters. Michel
Adanson, a French botanist, planned to assign numerical values to the
similarities between organisms and he proposed that equal weightage
should be given to all the characters while classifying plants. He used
as many characters as possible for the classification, and these
classifications came to be known as Adansonian classifications.
Later, Robert R. Sokal & Peter H. A. Sneath in 1963 divided the field
into phenetics in which classifications are based on the patterns of
overall similarities and cladistics in which classifications are based
on the branching patterns of the estimated evolutionary history of the
taxa. Numerical taxonomy was however largely developed and
popularized by Sneath and Sokal.
The application of Adansonian principles and use of modern methods
and electronic data processing techniques, have helped in the
evolution of several new classifications of plants during the past few
decades.
Aspects of Numerical taxonomy
Numerical taxonomy involves the following two aspects-
Construction of taxonomic groups: Individuals are selected and their
characters are spotted. Larger the number of characters better is the
approach. Then resemblances among the individuals are then established on
the basis of character analysis.
Discrimination of taxonomic groups: When the taxonomic groups chosen
for the study show overlapping of characters, discrimination should be used
to select them.
Principles of Numerical taxonomy
1. The greater the content of information in the taxa, and more the characters
taken into consideration, the better a classification system will be.
2. Every character should be given equal weightage in creating new taxa.
3. For comarison purpose, the similarity between any two entities is
considered.
4. Correlation of characters differs in the groups of organisms under study.
Thus distinct taxa can be recognized.
5. Phylogenetic conclusions can be drawn from the taxonomic structure of a
group and from character correlations, assuming some evolutionary
mechanisms and pathways.
6. The science of taxonomy is viewed and practiced as an empirical science.
7. Phenetic similarity is the basis of classifications.
Advantages of Numerical taxonomy
The data of conventional taxonomy is improved by numerical
taxonomy as it utilizes better and more number of described
characters.
As numerical methods are more sensitive in delimiting taxa, the data
obtained can be efficiently used in the construction of better keys and
classification systems.
Many existing biological concepts have been reinterpreted in the light
of numerical taxonomy.
Numerical taxonomy allows more taxonomic work to be done by less
highly skilled workers.
Disadvantages of numerical taxonomy
The numerical methods are useful in phenetic classifications and not
phylogenetic classifications.
The proponents of “biological” species concept may not accept the
specific limits bound by these methods.
Character selection is the greatest disadvantage in this approach. If
characters chosen for comparison are inadequate, the statistical
methods may give less satisfactory solution.
Different taxonometric procedures may yield different results. A
major difficulty is to choose an apt procedure for the purpose and the
number of characters needed in order to obtain satisfactory results by
these mechanical aids.
Applications of Numerical taxonomy
Can be successfully used in the study of various angiospermic genera
like Apocynum, Chenopodium, Crotalaria, Cucurbita, Oenothera,
Salix, Zinnia, wheat cultivars, Maize cultivars, etc.
With the help of numerical taxonomy similarities and differences in
bacteria, other microorganisms can be studied.
Phytochemical data from seed protein and mitochondrial DNA RFLP
studies has been numerically analyzed to study the interspecific
variations.
References-
1. https://www.studyandscore.com/studymaterial-detail/numerical-
taxonomy-and-chemotaxonomy
2. https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plant-taxonomy/numerical-
taxonomy-meaning-merits-and-demerits/30515
